The pessimists argue that for all its construction boom (William Penn's statue, once setting a limit to any building's height, became a relative dwarf more than a decade ago), Philadelphia is still a laggard, slowed down by a history of outdated habits and infrastructure that does not apply to sunbelt cities such as Atlanta or Houston.

ECONOMIST: City life

Strict zoning laws, including a height limit of 39 feet, make sure that the building isn't conspicuous.

FORBES: Magazine Article